To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

In 1854, territorial governor, Isaac Ingalls Stevens, suggested that a university for Washington Territory be established. The territorial legislature settled on Seattle as the setting for the school in 1858 but it was not until 1861 when appointed commissioners looked for a 10-acre site. Arthur A. Denny, Edward Lander and Charlie Terry eventually donated land for the school in downtown Seattle. Situated between 4th Avenue, 6th Avenue, Union Street and Seneca Street, the Territorial University of Washington officially opened on November 4, 1861 with 30 students. In 1862, the Washington territorial legislature incorporated the school and appointed a Board of Regents. Throughout the university's early years, the school faced constant changes in administration, enrollment and financial support. Finally, in 1884, the legislature appropriated funds for the school and continued to make appropriations for the school in the following years. In 1889, the number of students approximated 300. About this time, discussion arose regarding a new site for the growing school. A graduate of the school and later professor, Edmond Meany, served as head of a committee to choose a new site off of Union Bay, further north and east of its current site. In 1895, the school formally moved to this new campus. Meanwhile the size of the student population had continued to grow. In 1902, the school numbered about 600 students.

Edmond S. Meany (1862-1935) was a historian, journalist, writer, legislator and civic leader in the early days of Washington. After supporting the university through the legislature in the early 1890s, he became the school's first registrar in 1894. In 1897, he became a professor and the head of the school's history department. He wrote many accounts of history related to the Pacific Northwest including works on Mount Rainier and the local Native American tribes. He also served as editor of the Washington Historical Quarterly. Meany died of a stroke in Denny Hall at the university's campus in 1935.